Packages



May 29, 1956 J. L. BONANNO PACKAGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 26, 1949 INVENTOR Jszpu L. Bmvmwva 204;

ATTORNEY May 29, 1956 J. L. BONANNO PACKAGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 26, 1949 INVENTOR JasexwLBwmwvo BY 32, 6/6 U ATTORNEY United States Patent 'Lionel Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application July 26, 1949, Serial No. 106,860,

now Patent No. 2,641,743, dated June 9, 1953. Divided and this application October 23, 1952, Serial No. 317,211

Claims. (Cl. 206-46) Thepresent invention relates to transformers and is more particularly directed toward transformers suitable for use with toy railroads.

The present invention is particularly well suited for transformers for use on the usual 110 volt house circuit and operating comparatively small loads with comparatively low secondary voltages, such as 9 to 13 volts.

Transformers for this purpose should be designed for low manufacturing cost, and the present invention is directed toward low cost, low wattage, variable voltage output transformers for toy trains and other similar low voltage alternating current operating apparatus.

The present invention contemplates the use of a preassembled transformer unit having laminated field and primary and secondary windings with part of the latter winding exposed to provide for variable voltage take-off, a plastic cover or box adapted to receive the field-winding unit and hold it in place, and a base adapted for convenient assembly with the cover, the base holding the transformer unit in place without the use of attachments, screws and other devices.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The acompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, one embodiment in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is an exploded perspective view showing the cover with field-winding unit and the base;

Figure 2 is an inverted plan View showing the cover and wiring parts carried by it in full lines, and the field and coil in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2, showing the complete transformer assembled;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 4 of Figure 3, with parts broken away, showing interior construction; and

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram.

The filler is shown in the form of a transformer field is of usual rectangular form and carries the primary winding 11 and secondary winding 12 as usual. A portion of the secondary winding is wound about an insulating terminal plate 13 and insulation is scraped off to provide a flat surface, as indicated at 14, from which voltages of varying amount may be obtained. The primary winding for the transformer is connected to a twoconductor lamp cord, as indicated at 14, and one end of the secondary winding is connected to a wire 15.

The cover is a molding preferably made of phenylformaldehyde and is in the form of an inverted five-sided box with a top wall 21, ends 22, 22 and sides 23, 23. The top of the box carries two binding posts 25 and 26. The binding post 25 is connected to a soldering lug 27 and the binding post 26 is connected with an L-shaped strap 28. The strap 28 is in contact with hub 29 of a 2,747,731 Patented May 29, 1956 contact arm 29 carried by an-operating finger 30 so that the arm 29 may be swung back and forth. The molding 20 has internal corner ribs 30 which engage the corners of the field structure 10 and hold the structure against movement lengthwise of the box. Adjacent the corner elements 30 are ribs 31 having downwardly facing shoulders 32. The ribs below the shoulders 32 engage the sides of the transformer field, and the shoulders 32 form stops limiting the upwardmovement of the transformer field into the housing. This definitely locates the field and coil as well as the bared portion 14 of the secondary so that the contact arm 29 can be swept across the secondary to pick off variable voltages. The secondary lead 15 is connected to the binding post 25.

The base shown generally at 40 is made of two pieces of sheet metal 41 and 42; the lower one has upwardly extending bumps 43 welded to downwardly extending bumps 44 carried by the upper sheet metal part. The sheet metal part 42 has side flanges indicated at 45 and 46. These side flanges have just the proper width to fit portions 47, of the inside walls of the casing. The sheet metal member 42 is also provided with two upwardly bent members 49 and 50, here shown as bifurcated, each having side elements 51, 51 and each side element being provided with teeth 52 which face downwardly and inwardly.

The inner walls of the casing have ribs 53, 53 preferably of key-shaped cross-section as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The width of these ribs is such that the tooth members engage them very tightly when the plastic cover and the metal base are pressed toward one another. The teeth may wear away a small amount of the relatively soft plastic material and tend to spring slightly during this operation, so that the metal tightly grips the plastic so as to prevent accidental removal or separation of the parts. The current supply cord 14 is knotted as indicated at 54 and passes through an opening 55 in the wall of the cover, as indicated.

The assembly of the parts is very easy, rapid, and inexpensive, and the electrical testing may be completed, if desired, before the cover and base are pressed together.

This application is a division of copending application, Serial No. 106,860, filed July 26, 1949, for transformers, now Patent No. 2,641,743, granted June 9, 1953.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a filler of predetermined size, a housing made of plastic material, closed at the top and having side walls provided with means for receiving and positioning the filler in a predetermined position, the housing walls having internally disposed vertical ribs extending alongside the filler, and a bottom closure member engaged with the bottom of the filler and having upwardly extending bifurcated metal gripper members having downwardly and inwardly facing teeth which bite into the sides of the ribs and prevent separation of the base and cover.

2. An enclosure comprising a sheet metal base having two upwardly extending sheet metal elements, each provided with a pair of downwardly and inwardly facing teeth opposite one another and a cover made of rigid, relatively soft plastic material and having internally disposed vertical ribs with side surfaces spaced farther apart than the point to point spacing of the opposite teeth and past which the teeth may be moved to bite into the material so that the teeth engage the same and prevent separation of the base and cover.

3. An enclosure comprising a downwardly opening cover made of rigid, relatively soft plastic material and having opposite inside walls each interrupted by a vertical rib, and a sheet metal base having upwardly extending bifurcated rib-edge engaging members with downwardly and inwardly facing teeth which bite into the sides of the ribs and prevent separation of the base and cover, and side flanges engaging the inside walls of the cover to maintain alignment of the base and cover.

4. An enclosure comprising an inverted, box-like cover of generally rectangular cross-section horizontally, made of rigid, relatively soft plastic material and provided on its inner walls with vertical ribs near the corners extending part-way to the bottom edges, and a sheet metal base of a length and Width to enter and fit the rectangular walls and having upwardly extending side bifurcated members with downwardly and inwardly facing teeth which bite into the sides of the ribs and prevent separation of the base and cover.

5. In combination, a filler, a downwardly opening fivesided molded plastic box into which the filler fits, and a sheet metal base which enters the bottom of the box to close off the same, the base having a portion bearing against the filler and upwardly extending bifurcated members which project into the box beyond the bottom of the filler and are provided along the sides with downwardly and inwardly facing teeth, the inside of the box being provided with ribs corresponding in number and location with the bifurcated toothed members, each rib having a width in excess of the point to point spacing of opposite teeth of the corresponding bifurcated member, the tooth members being movable upwardly along the ribs, and the teeth biting into the plastic material of the ribs to prevent separation of the base and cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 325,230 Anderson Sept. 1, 1885 328,291 Cooper Oct. 13, 1885 1,645,165 Shackelton Oct. 11, 1927 1,798,779 Bowersock Mar. 31, 1931 1,844,531 Wey Feb. 9, 1932 2,114,189 Kronmiller Apr. 12, 1938 

